Its exotic beauty and effortless care make the calamondin the ideal bonsai. This is all the more true as it is one of the few citrus plants that also thrive wonderfully indoors in winter. These instructions show you how to skilfully care for a Citrus mitis as a bonsai.

With its bright fruits, the calamondin is a very special bonsai

How to water the mini orange correctly

Regular watering with lime-free water is the top gardener's duty if you successfully care for your calamondin bonsai. Pour the room-warm water directly onto the root disc as soon as the substrate has dried. This is required more frequently during the warm summer months than in winter. The citrus plant reacts to waterlogging and dry bales by shedding its leaves.

Fertilize calamondin as a bonsai in a balanced way - this is how it works

Add a liquid citrus fertilizer to the irrigation water weekly from May to August. The nitrogen it contains keeps growth going. Phosphorus supports flowering and fruit formation. In winter, the nutrient supply continues at a low level by fertilizing every 4 weeks from September to April.

If you water your calamondin with normal tap water, the impending iron deficiency should be prevented with special fertilizers. To do this, switch to Ferramin or a similar iron-chelated fertilizer every fourth time you fertilize.

Instructions for the perfect bonsai pruning

Cutting is a double-edged sword on calamondin bonsai. Without pruning, the wood only branches very cautiously. Extensive pruning reduces the volume of flowers and fruits. How to cut with expertise:

  • After flowering, allow new shoots to develop except for 3 to 4 pairs of leaves
  • Then shorten the shoots to 1 or 2 pairs of leaves
  • If necessary, trim moderately at the end of the winter period in March
  • Thin out dead branches and water shoots

In addition, you can wire the bonsai from April/May to August/September to give it the desired shape. Calamondins are excellent for styles like Moyogi (free, upright form) and Hokidachi (broom form). Shakan, the inclined form, is also conceivable. However, if there is a lot of fruit, there is a risk that your bonsai will tip over.

tips

When your calamondin bonsai loses its leaves, the sapling is primarily a signal of a lack of light. This applies primarily during the winter time, which a Citrus mitis spends far away from its sunny home. Waterlogging or dry balls are other causes that are responsible for the evergreen mini tree dropping its leaves.

Category:

Indoor plants